5 reasons why order kiosks are a no-brainer even for small snack bars

1. Standard solution makes order kiosks accessible for small business owners

Maybe it’s your dream to place an order kiosk in your venue, but the idea of a large investment is holding you back. Developments in self-service are moving quickly, and to meet demand, more and more standard solutions are emerging. Think of a small kiosk on a counter, mounted on a wall, or placed on a stand. Because of the affordable and realistic pricing of a simple or basic order kiosk, the McDonald’s principle has become accessible to every snack bar owner. This allows more entrepreneurs to take the step toward digitization, including you as the owner of a small-scale snack bar, cafeteria, or food shop.

2. Save hands-on work with a counter order kiosk

Finding and retaining staff remains a challenge. Rising personnel costs are a daily reality. For small snack bars or cafeterias, it is also a great solution to shift the ordering process to the guest. Because with a counter order kiosk you have the perfect employee. This full-time employee is never sick or late, is always friendly, takes work off your hands in the ordering and payment process, and costs only a fraction compared to a “real” employee. The investment therefore pays off quickly because you need fewer staff. And you can, of course, gradually move toward reduced staffing. For example, you can have 15-year-olds, who are not yet allowed to work as meal delivery drivers, assist alongside the kiosk so guests can receive extra explanation when needed.

3. More upselling than ordering at a regular POS

“Would you like sauce with the croquette? Would you like to upgrade the hamburger to a menu with fries and a drink?” At the POS, cafeteria staff are encouraged to promote upselling. However, it is often forgotten, especially during peak times when there is a long line. The order kiosk automatically shows upselling suggestions; the extra options are displayed on the screen with appetizing photos. As a result, people more easily choose something extra. Drinks with an additional charge in the kids’ box, for example, or loaded fries instead of regular fries. This results in an average spend that is up to 20% higher. In addition, you can strategically promote monthly offers or bestsellers and have them “pop up,” so you sell more of what is most beneficial to you – in other words, items with high margins.

4. High throughput and reduced waiting time for guests

An order kiosk in your venue helps significantly to handle peak times at the regular POS. This results in fewer queues and shorter waiting times to place an order. This creates additional positive side effects. Due to the high throughput, the number of orders and transactions increases, along with the profitability of the kiosk. If you combine the order kiosk with a pickup screen, you bring even more calm to the venue. Staff no longer need to call out when an order is ready. Human errors when taking orders also no longer occur with order kiosks, which is good for customer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of guests returning.

5. Self-ordering creates a better guest experience

Convenience and speed are what the fast-service industry is all about. Everyone is already accustomed to digital technology through smartphones. The demand for interactive self-service devices is greater than ever. On the simple order kiosk for the small snack bar, your guests can see the entire menu on one screen. The assortment is divided into clear groups: fries, snacks, salads, meals, ice cream, etc. Your guests simply tap the screen to order, feel less pressure, and have more calm to choose what they like. As a result, your service level increases and you change the customer experience. Don’t be mistaken—self-service is not only popular with young people. Growing consumer behavior shows that entire generations are eager for easy ordering!

Daniel

Adviseur at DISH

Daniel enjoys collaborating with hospitality entrepreneurs. Based on practical discussions, he writes about recognizable challenges and how to tackle them step by step. He is down-to-earth, clear, and always focused on solutions that really work.